Flooring structure



Feb. 19, 1957 H. NAGIN FLOORING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Filed July 20, 1950 INVENTOR Hare/0 Nag/r2 4.. gum

Feb. 19, 1957 H. NAGlN 2,781,703

FLOORING STRUCTURE Filed July 20,1950 5 Shets-Sheet 2 lAl'llllllll lllll INVENTOR Harold Nag/77 Mam Feb. 19, 1957 HNAG|N 2,781,703

FLOORING STRUCTURE Filed July 20, 19350- s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HrO/d/Vag/h Unitd tates Patent 22,781,703 FLOORING STRUCTURE Harold Nagi'n, Pittsburgh, 1 s., s i n-i'm neu sr l Ih-oductsv Company,-McKeesport, Pa5, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July so, 1950, --seng1 No. 174,909

.BClailtis. (Cl.

This inventionrelates to a-g'r'id type of-fioori-ng structure having a plate surface for the ,direct support of trafiic or other iloads along 'roadwa'ys, walkways, bridges, culverts or other-spans. More particularly, it relates to aprefabricatedsupporting grating panel. construction employing generally regular metal shapesand asubstantially Continuous punchedgor pierced ;.p1ate surface having drain age and anti-skid characteristics for use as fopen" flooring between generally horizontal supporting beams.

In thefield of open floorings to span supporting ,bieajms, it is desirable to provide a structure which is prefabricated to the maximum extent possible, thereby reducingthe amount of field welding required when the structure is put-in place :and fastened to those supporting beams. In addition, such astructure should utilize existing structural forms of regularshaPQ .to avoid the attenda-nt expense when special shapes have to be employed. Such should also obtain with respect to any platesurface that may beused asa top for the grid support forming apart of th ,fiooringeonstruction. The advantage of a ,plate icoverris that it furnishes extensive support and prevents undue wear on tire treads in the case of automotive ,traflic. At the same time, such a plate surface should be able ;to drain quickly and at the same time resist any tendency to skidding whether longitudinally in the direction of travel or transversely. ;Another'factor of momentconcerns the ease with which such a flooring can be constructed without the use of specially built machinery'or undue manual handling, In other words, the initial and final assernhl-y of such flooring should be relatively simple and inexpensive. In cases where plate surfaces are used, provision should also be made to resist dimplingi or depressing the plate surface between the supporting portions of the underlying grid without excessive use of structural metal,

In the flooring construction of Ifthis invention, a novel structure is provided embodying the advantageous principles just described. Other objects and advantages 'of this invention will be apparent from the following description and from the'drawings, which are illustrative only, in which n Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged-view in elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken along line II-II thereof; I

Figure 3 is a somewhat enlarged view in elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken along line Figure 5 is a view in elevation ofithe modified embodiment shown in Figure 4, taken along line V ,-V of Figure Figure dis a, view ofan l-beamillustratirig a mode of providing two main supporting bars therefrom for use thefmodified embodiment shown in Figures 4 aud 5;

2,781,703 messes we? Figure '7 "is a vi'ew in "elevation of a portion "of a further modification 'of this invention;

Fi gure -8 is a-view in elevation of a portion of a still further modification of this invention;

:Figure;9 isa "v'iew in elevation'of the still further modificationfshown in Figure 8 taken along line I-X'IX 'of Figure 8; t

Figure IOis aviewin'elevation ofa portion of another modified embodiment of this invention; "and Figure :151 is a view in elevation of the modifie'dembodiment shown in *Figure '10 taken along 'line 'XI XI of "Figure l0.

"Flooring construction of the'kind set 'forth in this invention is usually prefabric'ated in the form of panel sections having ,a length, Iwidth'and height usually rectangular, dependingupon the span, the service conditions involved and the ftyp'e and characterrof load 'to be supported. Thus, the'-adjoining' panels :10 and 11 embodying the structure of this invention as shown'in Figure '1, may be madenfor use as open steel bridge flooring and have a length of as much as 50' or more and a width, in plan, of 4',or:6. -.For.easelof;construction, adjoining panels will usually be abut-ted immediately above the supporting beams or stringers :such as lstrin'ger 12 extending longitudinally, in thecase of :a bridge, in :spaced parallel relationtoeach other. Each such panel, such as panel 10, comprises a plurality of parallel, spaced bars or channels of regular shape extending the full length of the panel bgtween, forzexample, adjacent stringers such as stringer l lnthe fabricationof ,a panel such asv panel it), a plate 14 which maybe a single plateor a, plurality of abutted plates iswelded 'on conventional welding machines as is Well known in the art, to the top flanges of the respective main supporting metal shapes in the form of channels i3. Thegplate I4 is a standard rolled plate which prior to welding to the channels 1-3 is punched or pierced to form the longitudinal and transverse openings '15 and 16 respectively. As is well known in the art, there are anumber of ways of punching or piercing such openings in a continuous operation. Sometimes the plate 14 is slit across the ends and down the'center of the prospective openings prior to the actual deforming operation resulting in turning up the respective ends 17 and 18 of the respective openings. These ends extend upwardly a sufficient distance to makethe openings adequate for the run off of rain, snow and other drainage for which may be necessary under the service conditions to which the flooring is applied, At the same time, the respective edges of those ends provide security against skidding either longitudinally or transversely. At the same, time, the size of the opening is correlated with the service to avoid any pinching of the material such as tire tread which will be in contact with the top of plate 14. Moreover, conventional bufling or blasting after the piercing or punching operation will normally be employed to remove any burrs that might otherwise be present, In ad dition, a prearranged pattern for the openings is selected leaving aisles '19 without any openings therein for continuous contacting engagement with the top flange of the respective channels 13 to which plate 14 is welded.

The channels 13 in their role as main supporting members or bars for the panel in question are united in each such panel by the welding to the respective bottom flanges thereof of spaced'parallel tension bars 20. h In addition, to overcome any tendency. of plate'14 to dish between the respective top flanges of main supporting bars- 13, a plurality of parallel sinuousrectangularly sectioned crossbars 21 is provided. The formation of generally symmetrical sinuous bars from a straight rolled strip of rectangular section may be performed in any suitable maans Sugh sinuous Crossb 21 n ss m ssanel are readily inserted or slid through punched or broached rectangular openings 22 in alignment through the respective webs of channels 13. These openings have sufficient clearance to enable the crossbars to be so threaded without difiiculty so that each crest 23 supports plate 14 substantially in the center of the distance between respective adjoining main supporting bars 13. After assembling, the crest 23 is shop welded to the underside of plate 14 and the bars 21 are also welded to the respective webs of the channels 13 producing a new integral flooring assembly having relatively great strength and rigidity. Moreover, the ferrous structural forms entering into the new flooring construction of this invention are relatively inexpensive in that they are substantially regular production items. Further, these items are readily assemblable in the shops into the form of prefabricated panels embodying this invention.

In the modified embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the underlying grid of the panel comprises a plurality of primary supporting bars 24 in the form of inverted T-shapes. These inverted T-bars are provided with regularly disposed and spaced notches 25 alternately with upstanding web portions 26 along the length of each such bar. Secondary supporting bars in the form of channels 27 of regular shape are arranged in parallel spaced relation at right angles to bars 24. These chanas are applied to the modification of Figures 4 and 5, and serve the same general purpose and have the same general construction. The advantage of using such secondary supporting bars 36 lies in increasing the number of openings possible on plate 28 without interfering with the welding of the abutting edges and surfaces making up the panel embodying this invention. The inverted T-bars 36 are welded along their flanges to the bottom edges of the notches 25 and along the top edge of the web of bar 36 to the underside of plate 28'.

A still further modified embodiment of this invention is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. In this last mentioned embodiment, a plate 37 having openings 38 and 39 therein and similar in general construction and purpose to plate 14 and its openings and 16, is welded to the upper edge of main supporting bars 40 extending transversely, for example, between the stringers of a bridge. Since bars 40 are in the form of an inverted T of regular shape, more openings 38 and 39 may be provided in the pattern which is punched or pierced in plate 37, thereby providing more or more extensive draining openings and anti-skid projections. Parallel spaced crossbars 41 of generally symmetrical sinuous profile extend through nels 27 are supported by the bottom of the respective notches and are shop welded thereto. A covering plate 28 similar to plate 14 is provided and is welded to the top flange of the secondary bars 27 and to the top edge of the web portions 26 of the primary supporting bars 24. The primary supporting bars 24 may extend transversely of the direction of trafiic when used, for example, to span the distance between stringers on a bridge. Plate 28 is provided with openings 29 and 30 in a pattern generally similar to that shown for plate 14 and one which is produced by any suitable means. eral, no such openings are provided where the top flanges of the bars 27 or the edges of the bars 29 are in contact with the underside thereof in order to facilitate the shop welding operation which afiixes the plate 28 to the grid structure. Intermediate primary supporting members 24 there are provided a plurality of spaced parallel sinuous crossbars 31 which pass through openings 32 in the webs of the channels 27 to which they are also Welded. The primary supporting bars 24 and the secondarysupporting bars 27 may be regarded as main supporting shapes relative to crossbars 31 being respectively parallel and at an angle thereto. The crests 33 0f the crossbars 31 support the underside of the plate 28 intermediate the web portions 26 and the top flanges of the channels 27 to prevent plate 28 from becoming dished or concave upwardly at those points. Crossbars 31 are similar in general construction, purpose and mode of assembly to the crossbars 21 except that crossbars 31 may extend transversely of the direction of traflic if, for example, the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 were used as a bridge floor. As is well understood, such bridge floors are left open and are not filled in with concrete or other interstitial material.

The inverted T-bars 24 may be readily produced in a shop by selecting an I-beam or H-beam 34 of appropriate flange and web dimension. Then by cutting the web along the dotted line 35 it is possible to produce from a single beam 34 two inverted T-bars such as T-bar 24. No claim is made herein to this mode of production of two inverted T-bars from a single I beam or H-beam.

A further modified embodiment of this invention is illustrated in Figure 7. This further modification is similar in all respects to the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 except that the channels 27 shown in Figures 4 and 5 have'been'replaced by secondary supporting bars 36 in the form of inverted Ts. The other parts of the Figure 7 further modification have the same reference numerals applied thereto with'the addition of primes,

In genopenings 40' in the web of bars 40. Crossbars 41 are similar in construction and purpose and in mode of as sembly to the crossbars 21. They are welded at their crests 42 to the underside of plate 37 and prevent the dishing or downward concaving thereof as described in connection with earlier described embodiments. Crossbars 41 are also shop Welded to the webs of the main bars 40 where they pass through the openings 40'. Intermediate the crossbars 41 and parallel thereto, there are provided a plurality of longitudinally extending bars 43 which pass through relatively close fitting openings 44 in alignment through the webs of the bars 40. These longitudinal bars 43 add rigidity to the structure of the still further modified embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 and complete the grid underlying the plate 37 in making up another form of open flooring construction panel embodying this invention. The flanges 45 of the bars 40 provide seating surfaces and strength characteristics when panels so constructed are put in place to span the sup ports where they are to be used. Usually such panels are fastened to such supports by field welding or by special clamps. In addition, such panels are usually field welded to adjoining abutting panels or special clamps may also be used to join such abutting panels in the manner which is well understood in this field.

Another modified embodiment of this invention is illustrated'in Figures 10 and 11. In general, the said another modification is generally similar to the modified embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. However, in the modification of Figures 10 and 11, the primary supporting bars 46 are provided with notches 47 which extend substantially to the flanges 48 of the bars 46. The secondary supporting bars 27 the plate 28" and the crossbars 31" are generally similar in construction, purpose and mode of assembly to the secondary bars 27, the plate 28 and the crossbars 31 in the modification illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In addition, however, in the modification of Figures 10 and 11, a plurality of parallel spaced transversely extending straight bars 49 are provided in staggered trelationto and below the crossbars 31" to which they are also parallel. These transverse bars 49 pass through close fitting openings 50 in the webs of channels 27 and are shop welded thereto. In the assembling of the said another modification of Figures 10 and 11, the insertion of the bars 49 through the aligned openings 50 is an extremely simple operation and enables the main supporting bars 46 to be spaced apart a greater distance than would otherwise be in order.

, While an important use of the flooring construction of this invention lies in the field of open steel bridge floorings and walkways, it may also be used as open flooring, for example, in storage warehouses and other buildings Moreover, while it usually will be prefabricated in the shop in the form of rectangular panels such flooring construction may be built up in the field if there is occasion therefior. Further, the particular size and dimensions of the metal shapes entering into the flooring construction of this invention will be appropriate to the conditions of service as is well understood in the art. Such panels may not only be rectangular, including those square in plan, but may also be polygonal or circular as required and any live load may move in any direction across the plate surface thereof. Various other modifications may be made in the details of this invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flooring construction employing metal shapes of substantially standard structural cross section, in combination, a plurality of main supporting bans in spaced parallel relation, said bars having generally vertical webs with spaced rectangular openings therein between the top and bottom thereof, said spaced openings laterally adjacent webs being in registry, a plurality of integral rectangular cross-bars in spaced parallel relation at right angles to said main supporting bars, said openings having a width generally equal to the width of one of said crossbars and an area generally conforming in cross section to that of one of said crossbar-s and with sufiicient clearance to enable said crossbai's to be threaded through said openings respectively, said crossbars extending through aligned ones of said openings in said webs of said main supporting bars and being affixed thereto, the bottoms of said openings being in supporting relation to the bottoms of said crossbars, said crossbar-s further being symmetrical and sinuous in side elevation with the crests thereof and the tops of said main supporting bars generally defining a planar surface, and a plate affixed to the tops of said main supporting bars and to said crests of said crossbar-s to complete said flooring construction, said plate having openings therein spaced away from. said tops and said crests, said openings having the edgesthereof extending upwardly to provide an anti-skid sun-face thereon.

2. In a flooring construction employing metal shapes of substantially standard structural cross section, in combination, a plurality of main supporting bars in spaced parallel relation, said bars having generally vertical webs with spaced rectangular openings therein between the top and bottom thereof, said spaced openings in laterally adjacent webs being in registry, a plurality of integral rectangular cnossbars in spaced parallel relation at right angles to said main supporting bars, said openings having a width generally equal to the width of one of said crossbai's and an area generally conforming in cross section to that of one of said orossbars and with sufiicient clearance to enable said orossbars to be threaded through said openings respectively, said crossbars extending through aligned ones of said openings in said webs of said main supporting bars and being afiixed thereto, the bottoms of said openings being in supporting relation to the bottoms of said crossbars, said crossb-ars fiwrther being symmetrical and sinuous in side elevation with the crests thereof and the tops of said main supporting bars generally defining a planar surface, and supporting surface means affixed to the tops of said main supporting bars and to said crests of said orossbars to complete said flooring construction.

3. A flooring construction as set forth in claim 2, having laterally extending tension mernbers spaced firom each other and afiixed to said main supporting bars, said tension members being in a plane below said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,278 Greulick Mar. 2, 1943 1,955,948 Collins Apr. 24, 1934 2,190,215 Nagin Feb. 13, 1940 2,241,512 Greulick May 13, 1941 2,257,762 Paves Oct. 7, 1941 2,319,468 Nagin et al. May 18, 1943 2,437,186 Collins Mar. 2, 1948 2,469,070 Greulick May 3, 1949 

